Tag Archives: parenting

I go to a different school to talk about bullying almost every single day of the school year and there is one group of people that sends me a ton of emails. I’m not talking about youth; they Facebook and tweet. I’m talking about parents. And the number one question I get is this: What can I do to prevent my child from being bullied? Continue reading →

Join the club and call yourself a #zombiemom. They may sometimes feel semi-comatose, and get their own days and nights mixed up, but #zombiemoms are alive, hungry for adult company, and meeting regularly in the netherworld of Twitter. Continue reading →

Home is ‘The Compound’ for TV personality and design expert Amanda Forrest, her partner and nine kids … plus the horse and the puppy. You’re apt to take a second look at the striking woman who may be behind you … Continue reading →

When Katherine Dines opens the red-painted door to her Nepean home, the welcome is gracious and warm. “Come in, come in,” she says. “The water’s hot for tea. Would you like some?” Petite, pretty and animated, the media personality has … Continue reading →

By Dr. Maggie MamenWe live in a child-centered society where children’s wants and demands are increasingly being given priority over marital or family harmony, financial considerations, parental sanity, common courtesy, quiet enjoyment, respect and common sense…

Dr. Maggie Mamen is an Ottawa-based clinical psychologist and the author of The Pampered Child Syndrome: How to Recognize It, How to Manage It, and How to Avoid Itwww.pamperedchildsyndrome.ca

It is most definitely that time of year: Back to School! The evidence is everywhere – on TV, the radio, in stores, newspapers, flyers, magazines … It’s as though the kids’ return to class has become the next holiday! Continue reading →

During the past 15 years, working from home has become more and more commonplace. Why? For up to 90 percent of moms, a desire to spend more time with the kids is the number one reason to work from home… Continue reading →

By Cathy Lumsden Now’s the perfect time to pat yourself on the back for all the amazing things you do with and for your children. It’s typical to discuss the sleepless nights, the worry and stress, and the hopes and … Continue reading →

As a parent you want what’s best for your children. For decades, parents have taught their kids that to have a successful life they need to study hard, go to post-secondary school and get a good paying job. But … Continue reading →

Whether it’s after school sports, other extra-curricular activities, or holiday schedules, it’s easy to overbook children and teens. All of the things your child participates in are important. So how do you know when you’ve passed the tipping point and your child is too busy? Continue reading →

The breaking down of barriers to men’s lockers rooms happened for women in 1975. Yet today we find that fathers are not given access to change rooms for their daughters. Equality in modern parenting has a way to go. Continue reading →

Worried about your child’s weight and health? There are reasons parents are uneasy. Loads of kids — nearly one in three in Ontario — are dealing with excess weight or obesity, meaning they’re at a higher risk for medical problems, bullying, self-esteem issues and depression. Continue reading →

How’s this for creative thinking? The Ottawa Catholic School Board has put on its institutional thinking cap to come up with some pretty compelling and positive options to appeal to different types of learners. Continue reading →

Whether it’s a control issue, a taste issue or the influence of peers when a child starts to go to school or eat meals at a friend’s house, fussy eating is a challenge for most parents at some point in their child’s early years. Continue reading →

Do you or somebody in your family need to live a gluten-free lifestyle? Then you don’t want to miss Gluten Free Utopia. Slated for Saturday, April 5, at the National Library and Archives, 395 Wellington Street, it will showcase more than 50 regional vendors specializing in all things gluten-free. Continue reading →

What’s new in the world of babies? Plenty! In an updated statement, the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) continues to recommend against the routine circumcision of newborn males. Recent evidence about the potential benefit of circumcision in preventing urinary tract infections … Continue reading →

Have you ever heard the expression, “It takes a community to raise a child?” Before having our son, I heard it a lot from friends and family. I shrugged it off not realizing how much this would play a role … Continue reading →

Relax. Your child. will. not. start high school while still in diapers. Although parents sometimes lament that dry undies—day and night—might never come about, sooner or later youngsters are ready, willing and able to do their own toileting. Continue reading →

On Saturday September 29 at 11a.m., mothers and babies will gather at sites across Ottawa and around the world for a friendly competition to see who can set the record for the most babies breastfeeding at one time. Continue reading →

By: Pam Dillon
The annual Christmas holiday serves up a feast of teachable moments outside the classroom. Besides the concerts, crafts and activities at school, valuable learning opportunities pop up in the community and right within the family. Continue reading →

Making nutritious school lunches the kids will eat is a challenge. The solution involves whatever they can or will eat, as long as it’s healthy. However, what they decide to put into their lunch bags might surprise you! Continue reading →

Nine-year-old Maya suffers from an anxiety disorder, one of the most common mental illnesses faced by Canadians. “She has good days and bad days,” explains her mother. “But school is a trigger for her. Continue reading →

“A lot of myths and misunderstanding about the best way to position a baby still exist, and we hope this guideline will lay the debate to rest,” says nurse practitioner Elyse Maindonald, who led the panel of experts that created the guideline. Continue reading →

By Alan Viau
There are only a handful of toys that were around when I was a kid and that my kids and today’s kids still enjoy. One toy is a product that has won “Toy of the Century” honours twice – LEGO. Continue reading →

Setting An Example For Life As Ashe Mukasa grows up, he’ll have the know-how to chase his dreams and the work ethic to achieve them. His parents will have taught him that. by Andrea Cranfield Helen Muleme surveyed her living … Continue reading →

by Pam Dillon At a dorm room on a distant campus, I left my youngest 10 days, six hours, 22 minutes and 32 seconds ago. After helping him unpack the 43 odd T-shirts, buying him a fan at Canadian Tire … Continue reading →

by Kathleen O’Grady It was an ordinary summer day. People were milling on the main thoroughfare, bikes zig-zagging through traffic, cafés and pubs spilling onto the sidewalk, patrons sipping their way through a lazy Friday afternoon. We were ordinary … Continue reading →

Did you know pirates ply their trade on the Rideau River? Before you sell the cottage or give up the boat, these pirates are friendly. They sail out of Mooney’s Bay and go by the name Pirate Adventures. Continue reading →

I came across an article today titled “When to Mediate a Playdate”. It really hit close to home, as I went through a phase were I was avoiding play groups at all costs. As the kids got older, I found the play dates became more and more difficult, and I was left feeling frustrated. Continue reading →

When I found out I was pregnant with my second child, the first thing I did was buy my firstborn, Henry, a big brother T-shirt. I was thrilled to be expecting again and I wanted my son to feel special and share in my excitement. It took me by surprise when I suddenly started to feel guilty about my pregnancy. Continue reading →

Kids across the city are itching to hit the road on bikes, skateboards, in-line skates and scooters. As soon as the streets are clear of snow, their wheels will be in motion. But what about their helmets? Continue reading →

The EZ Fold Stroll ‘N Trike™ is designed to fold in one easy step so you can store or take it anywhere. This 4 in 1 trike is a great grow-with-me trike offering the many features and fun for kids 9 months to 5 years. Continue reading →

I was useless. When I was first married, my wife asked me to fix something around the house and I was terrified to do so. Not only did I not know what to do, I didn’t even know which tool to use. I vowed that my kids would not grow up this way. Continue reading →

You want your kids to become successful adults. I certainly encouraged mine to be the best they could become in their chosen fields. But what approaches have proven to be winning strategies for success? Continue reading →

Are you worried about the size of your children? The latest report from Statistics Canada shows about a third of Canadian kids are overweight or obese. That fact has parents wondering what to do, since excess weight in childhood can lead to a host of health issues. Continue reading →

By Kathy Lane
Technology in the hands of a toddler can be like handing the world’s nuclear codes over to North Korea. You don’t know what they’re going to do with it or if you’ll ever get it back. Continue reading →

Whoever made up the phrase “sleep like a baby” obviously got lucky. The truth is that most babies don’t sleep through the night. In fact, many toddlers don’t either. Here are some ways to help you out. Continue reading →

By Alan Viau
“He just needs to settle down.” That’s the statement I saw most often on my son’s report card! They couldn’t handle my active son. The teachers even suggested that he might have ADHD and that drugs might help. Continue reading →

The signs were subtle. One day Jen Pilon glanced down and noticed her daughter Sara had been chewing her nails. This was new. Not wanting to draw attention to it, mom didn’t comment. Instead, she filed this development in her brain’s What’s Up? department for future reference. Continue reading →

by Chris Read “Go ahead, jump! I promise I will catch you.” She heard the words she wanted to hear and took the four-foot leap off the water trampoline and into my arms like the brave kid I … Continue reading →

Teaching your teen to drive can be a nerve-wracking experience at the best of times, but throw in our winter weather and you might be tempted to hide your car keys.
Compiled by Heather Cameron Continue reading →

The other day I bought an awesome new kitchen gadget: the OXO Julienne Peeler (available at The Bay for $10.99). It works like a regular peeler, but the blade is serrated to form long, skinny strips of whatever you’re peeling. Continue reading →

It’s far too easy to spread yourself thin with job and family obligations. Work-life balance can be an exhausting juggling act that, at times, may seem impossible without leaving yourself in the dust. Sometimes you need to recharge so you can keep doing … Continue reading →